Despite Lexus having now been building its range of 'F' performance cars for a decade - marked by the RC F 10th Anniversary edition - its approach to fast cars can occasionally look a little odd. Sometime it's completely spellbinding, as evidenced by the LFA, and then it can be a bit underwhelming, as seen in the RC F. While the regular road cars focus on technology and electrification, both RC and GS F were launched with atmospheric 5.0-litre V8s and passive dampers. Sometimes they're great, the fast Lexuses, but they're certainly unpredictable.
One of the biggest surprises as far as flagship Lexuses go, actually, is that they didn't arrive sooner. The original IS was surely the perfect base for a performance variant. Not only did it look smart, the dynamics had been proven in the standard versions and there was even a swoopy 'SportCross' estate that could have had a big engine stuffed into it. And while this may have been the time of BMW's divine E46 M3, Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport weren't quite on the form they currently are - it was the perfect time for Lexus to announce its arrival in the market with a tyre shredding hell raiser. Japan received the four-cylinder Altezza RS200, and very well received it was too, but even that was only making 210hp.
So how about twice the cylinders of an Altezza, and twice the power? Because that's what we have here, with a Chevy LS1 V8 dropped into an IS200. Don't worry about a sloppy auto being used for the conversion either, because this little Lexus is using a Tremec six-speed manual. Marvellous.
While there's not as much detail in the ad as you might like, there are some welcome concessions to the vastly increased power - new brakes and a new clutch being the most noteworthy. Given the stance you would have to assume some suspension work has been done as well, and apparently more than £1,000 has been spent on the new wheels and tyres. That said, from what can be seen of the rear tyres they don't look a recognisable brand, so it might be worth budgeting for some fresh ones...
Because, let's be honest, this Lexus could be a right old handful. A riotously entertaining handful, sure, but a handful nonetheless, and so you'll want to the best chance possible of containing it. Back when the IS200 was new, the 400hp this car is boasting was the preserved of cars a whole class larger - and nobody has ever really found the E39 M5 slow, have they? Here's a car that's smaller and lighter than the BMW yet with the same power, so expect it to be potent. Or 'VERY VERY FAST', as the owner describes it.
Perhaps the most endearing aspect of this Lexus, though, is it's reasonably restrained appearance. The wheels and the pipes are a bit of a giveaway, though there have certainly been more outlandish looking cars with much less firepower. And who's going to expect to see a 17 year-old Lexus with 400hp?
The price for this GM-modified curio is £8,500, which looks like decent value given the work has reputedly only just been completed. Does make you wonder why the car is consequently being sold on, naturally, though purchasing someone else's project car always comes with an element of risk - doesn't it? Furthermore, while the IS500 (and a bit) obviously costs more than its more humble brethren, it looks like a bargain route into some manual V8 hooliganism. At this money you're looking at old Audi S4s for the same configuration (without the hooliganism), with Vauxhall Monaros and very well used BMW M5s still a fraction more expensive. None will be as rare as the Lexus, either.
So while the IS may still require a bit of work before it's perfect, you have to applaud the creativity and the dedication to create such an unlikely hot rod. There's all sorts of potential here, with the Lexus surely ripe for a full track or drift conversion, or just a rather naughty road car. Do let us know if you take the plunge, because it looks jolly good fun.
SPECIFICATION - LEXUS IS200 V8
Engine: 5,700cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
Power (hp): 405@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@N/A rpm
MPG: Less than standard
CO2: More than standard
First registered: 2001
Recorded mileage: Engine's new...
Price new: £20,970 (IS200 Sport, 2002)
Yours for: £8,500
See the original advert here.
See the original advert here.
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